Chapter Veinte: The Man Without a Name

Aetheris soared through the skies, the wind rushing past them as they climbed higher and higher. Adanna's laughter filled the air, the thrill of the ride invigorating her spirit. The man behind her held on tightly, his arms wrapped around her waist, his knuckles white with the effort of controlling his griffin. Despite his fear of breaking the rules, the excitement of the moment seemed to be winning over his anxiety.

After what felt like a few seconds to Adanna but was likely closer to the promised ten minutes, the griffin began its descent. Aetheris swooped down with a graceful landing, its powerful legs folding beneath its body. The wind calmed and the world grew still, leaving only the thud of the griffin's footsteps on the soft grass as they made their way back to the garden.

The man got off the griffin first, while Adanna, still giddy from the flight, took a moment to soak in the beauty of the estate from this new perspective. A nervous cough broke the silence. The Man stood beside the griffin, fiddling with his gloves. "We should, uh, probably get you down now," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

Adanna turned to him, a wide grin on her face. "That was incredible!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. "I've never felt so free!"

She started to step off the griffin, but the Man held up a hand, his face a mask of concern. "No, no, please allow me," he insisted, gesturing towards her.

Adanna hesitated, a playful look in her eyes. "Nonsense," she said, her voice teasing. "I do not need a damsel in distress rescue. I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much."

The man's eyes grew even wider, "No es eso," he said, switching to Spanish, his voice quick and earnest. "It would be...descortés not to assist a lady." He took a deep breath and tried again in English, "It is not proper for a... for a... well, for me to let you down unassisted."

Before she could finish her sentence, the Man, with surprising strength, scooped her up by the waist and gently lifted her off the griffin. The world tilted for a moment, and Adanna found herself cradled in his arms, their bodies pressed close. Her breath caught in her throat, surprised by the sudden physical contact. His touch was warm and surprisingly gentle, sending a shiver down her spine.

"There," he murmured, placing her back on her feet.

Adanna, flustered, straightened her dress and stepped back. "Thank you," she stammered, her cheeks burning hot.

Suddenly, a twig snapped in the distance. Both Adanna and the Man froze, their eyes darting towards the sound. Footsteps rustled through the bushes, growing closer.

The Man's face drained of color. With a panicked bow, he muttered a hurried apology in Spanish, "Lo siento, debo irme," (I'm sorry, I must go) and before Adanna could react, he turned and walked away the griffin following him.

"Wait!" Adanna called after him, her voice a mix of confusion and disappointment. "But... I don't even know your name!"

Her question hung unanswered in the air. She watched in a daze as the Man and Aetheris disappeared into the trees, the rustling of leaves the only evidence of their retreat. Just then, the bushes rustled again, and Serena emerged, her face a mask of worry. "Adanna? What on earth are you doing out here?" she exclaimed.

Adanna whirled around, a smile slowly spreading across her face. "Serena, you will not believe it!" she gushed, the excitement of her recent adventure bubbling over.

Just as she was about to start her tale, Serena interrupted her. "Adanna, this is serious," she said, her voice laced with concern. "The Duchess has requested a meeting with all the maidens immediately. There must be something wrong. Come now, we have no time to waste."

Serena grabbed Adanna's arm, pulling her towards the manor. Despite the urgency, Adanna couldn't help but glance back at the spot where the Man and the griffin had vanished. A strange feeling of anticipation bubbled within her. Who was he? And would their paths cross again?

The hurried whispers of the other maidens filled the grand dining room as Serena practically dragged Adanna through the heavy oak doors. They slid into empty seats at the far end of the table just as the Duchess, entered the room, her expression stern.

Silence fell as the Duchess spoke. "Ladies," she announced, her voice carrying through the room. "I have an important announcement to make regarding the competition."

Adanna straightened in her seat, curiosity battling with a nagging sense of dread. What new twist was the Duchess throwing at them this time?

The Duchess continued, a slight smile playing on her lips. "To elevate the focus on character and intellectual connection, we are implementing a new element to the competition. Each round, one of you will be chosen as the 'Most Valuable Participant.'"

A murmur rippled through the room. Serena leaned towards Adanna, her voice barely a whisper. "'Most Valuable Participant'? What does that even mean?"

The Duchess raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. "The chosen participant will be granted a singular audience with... the Duke himself."

"However," the Duchess added, her tone sly, "there's a twist." Another collective gasp filled the air.

"You will meet the Duke behind a veil," she explained. "A physical barrier will separate you, allowing for conversation without the distraction of appearances. This way, you can focus on his wit, his intellect, and the connection you forge through conversation."

The room erupted in a flurry of whispered chatter. Serena squeezed Adanna's hand, her face etched with worry. "This changes everything," she hissed. "Now, we not only have to be charming and intelligent, but we also have to hope the Duke finds us interesting enough based on personality alone!"

Adanna felt a pang of anxiety. While she was confident in her wit and charm, the constant pressure to be "perfect" was starting to wear on her. But then, a flicker of defiance sparked in her eyes.

"Well," she declared, a mischievous grin spreading across her face, "that makes things a bit more interesting, wouldn't you say?"

Serena, despite her worry, couldn't help but return a small smile. They were in this together, and Adanna's infectious enthusiasm was hard to resist. Perhaps, just perhaps, this new twist could work to their advantage. After all, who knew, maybe the Duke wouldn't be so shallow after all she wasn't exactly what Niamedean men considered "Duchess material."

Adanna lay restless in her bed, the fine sheets giving her no peace. Her mind was full of the day's events, playing over and over. The Duchess's words about the "Most Valuable Participant" meeting the Duke were new, but it was the thought of the strange man with the griffin that truly occupied her thoughts. Who was he? Her curiosity grew stronger with each passing moment.

She sighed and looked at Serena, who read by the window. At last, Serena closed her book and saw Adanna's troubled face. "Adanna," Serena said carefully, "what were you doing in the garden earlier?"

Adanna's eyes brightened at the chance to share her secret. "Serena, you will not believe it!" she cried, moving to the edge of the bed. "I met the most interesting... person!"

Serena raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "A person?" she repeated. "In the garden?"

Adanna began to speak quickly, full of excitement. "He was tall, with kind eyes and a charming way of speaking," she said happily, "and he... he took me for a ride on his griffin!"

Serena, who had been listening quietly, almost choked. "A griffin?" she said in shock and worry.

"Yes!" Adanna said, not seeing Serena's fear. "His name was Aetheris, and he flew me all around Aeronia for ten whole minutes!"

Serena threw up her hands. "Wait, wait, wait! Stop for a moment!" she said sharply. "He took you on his griffin, to see a kingdom you have never explored to before?"

Adanna's face slowly changed as she understood. She felt ashamed as she realized how foolish she had been. "Oh," she said quietly, no longer excited.

"Adanna!" Serena scolded, sounding worried. "Do you not see how dangerous that was? Going with a stranger, on a griffin, no less!"

Adanna hung her head, feeling guilty. "I... I just wanted to see more of Aeronia," she said in a small voice.

Serena sighed, no longer angry but still worried. "But Adanna," she said gently, "you could have been hurt, or worse, sent away! The Duchess takes the rules very seriously."

Adanna said nothing, feeling the weight of what she had done. "Look," Serena went on, speaking more softly, "from now on, I will watch you more closely. We cannot make any more mistakes. You have a real chance of winning this contest, do not throw it all away."

Adanna nodded, feeling disappointed. "I know, Serena," she said sadly. "It is just... I do not know if the Duke will ever find someone like me... pleasing."

Serena hit her arm playfully. "Nonsense!" she cried. "The Duke will be charmed by your clever mind, your wit, and your kind heart. Just be yourself, Adanna. That is all anyone can ask."

Despite Serena's kind words, Adanna still felt unsure. As she laid back down in her bed, the images of the mysterious man with the griffin danced through her thoughts. Why was she so interested in him? He wasn't the Duke, but there was something about his gentle nature and the way he spoke that resonated with her.